9 Must-See Designs From the CFDA Jewelry Showcase

November 21, 2016byVictoria Gomelsky

The event brought together some of the finest jewelers in the business

Last Monday, on a brilliantly sunny fall day, the Council of Fashion Designers of America held a jewelry showcase at the Samsung 837 space in Manhattan. More often than not, I miss these kinds of events because I’m marooned in Los Angeles. Not this time! I’d arrived in the city over the weekend and made the showcase my first order of business Monday morning.

Created in 2013 to help generate exposure for the CFDA’s growing number of jewelry designers (which currently number 82), the event for the first time also featured the CFDA’s eyewear members.

“Showcasing CFDA’s jewelry and eyewear designers under one roof at Samsung 837 allows us to make a strong statement for accessories and our growing membership in the category,” said Steven Kolb, president and CEO of the CFDA, in a statement.

Mimi So’s eponymous collection of jewelry is as sleek and sophisticated as her trademark bob. Although she’s currently expanding the line to include pops of color rendered in enamel, her geometric black and white diamond jewels are her signature.

Mish Tworkowski is a friend of mine, but I swear I’m not biased when I say his luxe jewels, heavy on pearls and offbeat gemstones, represent the essence of fine craftsmanship. Next time you’re in New York, check out his salon at 30 Bond Street in NoHo—it’s the perfect distillation of his impeccable taste.

The first word that comes to mind when designer Nicholas Varney’s name comes up? Worldly. The seasoned traveler incorporates rare and magnificent gems into his baroque jewels in a way that captures both his love of nature and his ease among the denizens of high society.

Australia-born Scosha Woolridge is inspired by the three C’s: cultures, colors, and communities. Her lush jewels draw on a global tradition of design, evoking her off-the-beaten-path travels in Brazil, India, and elsewhere.

Trained at FIT and tested at Asprey, where she worked as an in-house designer for eight years, Sharon Khazzam recently launched a bespoke signature series at Barneys: Clients who order a custom piece from her will also get a hand-painted watercolor of the jewel.

Sidney Garber’s daughter, Brooke Garber Neidich, carries on the jewelry tradition he began by creating objects that radiate elegance. Her retail stores in Chicago and on Madison Avenue in New York City are emporiums of good taste.

Earlier this year, JCK published a profile of designer Stephen Dweck that will bring you up to speed on the brand he started 35 years ago. But nothing beats a conversation with the warm and friendly designer. At the showcase, he clued me in on his spring 2017 plans: “We’re making a real push for boulder opals.”